Division of Student Affairs

2 0 0 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Table of contentsA Word from the Vice President for Student Affairs 2 Mission 3 Student Involvement Student Organizations 4 Student Union Activities & Advisory Board (SUAAB) 5 Greek Life 6 Student Media 7 Student Government 8 Service Learning 9 Women’s Leadership Conference 9 Sports, Recreation and Leisure 10 Intercollegiate Athletics 11 Recreational Sports 12 Spirit Program 13 Late Night Programs 14 Experience Dallas 14 Living and Learning 15 Residential Life 15 Living Learning Communities 16 Housing Operations 17 Health and Wellness 18 Student Health Center and Health Education 18 Student Counseling Center 19 Behavior Assessment and Intervention Team 19 Student Success and Transitions 21 New Student Programs 21 Freshman Year Experience 22 Sophomore Year Experience 23 Transfer Year Experience 24 Disability Services 24 Career Center 25 International Student Services 27 Office of the Dean of Students 28

Special Projects and Initiatives 29 Staff Awards and Recognition 32

A message from the Vice President for Student Affairs

We are pleased to present the 2008 Annual Report for the Division of Student Affairs. As you will see in the pages that follow, the units within Student Affairs had an extremely busy and productive year. They are to be commended for their hard work and commitment to our students at UT Dallas.

The commitment of our staff to excellence and continuous improvement has helped to enhance the student experience at UT Dallas. Of course, no one succeeds alone, so we would also like to thank all of our partners and collabo-rators across the campus community who contributed to our efforts, including our student leaders. We could not have accomplished what we did without you.

We trust the information we have chosen to highlight in this report will help give you a snapshot of the contributions our units made to our students and the University throughout the year. We also encourage you to contact us if in reviewing this report you identify areas in which you’d like to be involved with us in the future.

We look forward to many more successes as we work together to provide an enriching, seamless learning environment for our students.

Darrelene Rachavong, Ed.D.

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Mission

The role of Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Dallas is to enrich the educational and university experience for students by providing outstanding services and programs from enrollment to graduation. Student Affairs plays a key role in supporting the University’s commitment to produce engaged gradu-ates, prepared for life, work and leadership in a constantly changing world.

Student Affairs is committed to providing an exciting campus environment that allows students to make the most of their college experience. Under-standing that UT Dallas students are unique individuals with very diverse needs and expectations, a wide array of programs and services were offered during 2008. The following report gives a snapshot of those programs and services and highlights the accomplishments of our staff and students.

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Student Organizations

Student Organizations play an important role in campus life at UT Dallas. Over 130 registered student organizations were available to students during 2008, including academic, cultural, political, recreational, religious, service and other special interest groups. Over 3,000 students joined these organiza-tions during the year. These student groups hosted a variety of meetings and events, which included lectures, Bible studies, cultural celebrations, game nights, jam sessions, parties, recreational events, and pre-professional information and training events.

The Student Organization Forum (SOF), made up of student leaders from registered student organizations, oversees the allocation of funds to individual student organizations and provides leadership development opportunities as well. The year culminated in the annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet to honor UT Dallas student leaders.

AWARDSStudent Leader of the Year - Ben Dower

Student Organization Leader of the Year - Patrick Hampton

Student Organization of the Year - Alpha Phi Omega

Service to Student Life - Diana Kao

Community Service -Laura Samon

Dean of Students’ Golden Comet Award -Radio UTD

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STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Student Union Activities & Advisory Board (SUAAB)

SUAAB’s programming philosophy for 2008 was based on a new twist to an old theme, labeled “Edutainment” by the SUAABies. SUAAB determined that their programs and events would not only be entertaining but also educational. SUAAB sponsored or co-sponsored 68 events throughout the year, with an attendance of over 6,000, including the following four new signature programs:

l The UTD Cinematheque, a monthly film night

l Acoustic Tuesdays, with live music alternating between the PUB and Comet Café stages

l SUAAB Radio, which included a weekly broadcast and a monthly SUAAB Radio Promo Party

l Comet Nights, a monthly social gathering and funfest in the Student Union with other UTD student groups.

SUAAB also participated in the Homecoming Parade and won the UTD Spirit Cup.

EVENTSUTD CinemathequeAcoustic TuesdaysSUAAB Radio PromoComet NightsThirsty Thursday VIP and Moroccan LoungesHomecoming Dance and CasinoCasino NightSpringapaloozaGuy Fawkes DayMadrigal DinnerMurder Mystery DinnerMatrix Trilogy ScreeningHalloween Ghoul BallTEMOC’s Birthday BashUnderground PoetryWord Up PoetryDrag Show

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Greek Life

UT Dallas is home to fourteen national Greek-letter fraternities and sororities representing four different Greek Councils, with a membership of over 400 students during 2008.

Now a UT Dallas tradition, Greek Life’s 2008 Greek Week included a banner competition, Family Feud, Greek Sing, the NPHC Trading Spaces step show and an awards banquet. The first-ever All-Greek Retreat was also held in 2008, with 75 students participating. Greek Life sponsored a total of 132 chapter meetings and special events during the year, with over 5,000 student participations.

Greeks also dedicated over 5,000 volunteer hours in service to the community and raised $20,000 in charitable donations. Their service included work with national organizations such as CASA, Susan B. Komen Foundation and St. Jude Research Hospital.

EVENTSAll-Greek RetreatGreek WeekGreek Sing Trading Spaces Step ShowChildren’s Halloween PartyCanned Food SculpturesBox-a-ThonTrick or Treat for Canned GoodsUgly Man on CampusPoker NightsGreek TriviaTug-o-War CompetitionMarch MadnessHalloween CarnivalIce Cream and Dessert Socials

GREEK CHAPTERSInterfraternity Council (men’s fraternities) Chi Phi Zeta Beta Tau Kappa Sigma Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Multicultural Greek Council (culturally-based fraternities and sororities) Lamda Phi Epsilon Omega Delta Phi Delta Epsilon Psi Sigma Lamba Alpha

National Pan-Hellenic Council (historically African-American fraternities and sororities) Delta Sigma theta Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha

College Pan-Hellenic Council (women’s sororities) Kappa Alpha Theta Delta Delta Delta Alpha Gamma Delta

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Student Media

Student Media included The UTD Mercury and Radio UTD during 2008. Both student-run groups earned recognition from their respective national organi-zations as being among the top student media operations in the U.S. in their respective fields.

The UTD Mercury published 18 print issues in addition to the annual Orientation Tabloid and maintained an Internet version of the publication as well. The UTD Mercury received the Associated Collegiate Press first-place cup for “Best Special Edition” for the Orientation 2007 special edition. Mercury staffers also earned first for editorial cartoon, first for critical review, and third for press release writing in live contests at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention in addition to 18 separate awards for previously published materials.

Radio UTD, an Internet-only radio production, recorded over 34,000 hits to their site during the year. Radio UTD received its second consecutive nomina-tion for “Best Student-Run, Internet-Only Radio Station” at the College Music Journal Marathon in New York City. They also received the Golden Comet Award at the UT Dallas Student Leadership Banquet for Radio UTD’s out-standing work during the year. Radio UTD’s volunteer DJs participated in the first-ever DJ Boot Camp in 2008 and provided music for a variety of campus events, such as Freshman Convocation, The Big Event and the Service Learning Banquet and dance.

The Student Fee Advisory Committee voted to provide funding for A Modest Proposal (AMP), a student-run publication that focuses on student life, politics, events, arts and social commentary.

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Student Government

The UT Dallas Student Government (SG) continued to provide strong and intentional student advocacy through their efforts and outreach during 2008. SG continued to sponsor a number of on-going services for students, including free scantrons, blue books and pencils, telephone and fax services, the Student Business Alliance, and attorney services. SG members provided a proactive voice for the students on many University committees, and they championed causes and projects to improve the quality of the student experi-ence at UT Dallas. They also participated as members of The University of Texas System Student Advisory Council (UTSSAC), providing the UT Dallas student voice at the UT System level. UT Dallas SG President, Ben Dower, was elected to serve as the 2008 chair of UTSSAC.

SG was successful in seeing a number of projects and initiatives come to frui-tion in 2008. They succeeded in gaining approval for the UTD Spirit Rock now installed on the campus mall and served on the committees that designed The Patio Mural, created the first-ever UTD Fight Song and considered changes to the UTD mascot and nickname. Other services SG successfully championed included DART passes for students, Mobile Campus, student Web forums, and Course Marketplace. During the nomination process for Student Regent, SG President Ben Dower was nominated and ultimately elected to the position for 2009. SG also beat the faculty in Ooze Ball for the third year.

EVENTS16th Annual HomecomingStudent Gatherings with the PresidentUT System Day of ServiceChelsea Clinton AppearanceRock The Vote

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Service Learning

Service Learning recorded 2,665 student participations in 137 volunteer events dur-ing 2008, resulting in 17,506 volunteer service hours for the year. Thirty-nine sepa-rate non-profit service agencies were the benefactors of these student efforts.Eight different Alternative Spring Break (ASB) teams, which included seventy-five student participants, provided service to ten different organizations across Texas and in other states. Service Learning also sponsored The Big Event, an annual event that focuses on meeting the needs of the local community. Three hundred two students from seventeen different student organizations participated in the 2008 event. Thirty different Service Saturdays were also conducted throughout the year, which provided volunteers to twenty different community organizations. UT Dallas volunteers helped in a variety of capacities, including sorting food for the North Texas Food Bank and completing yard word and home repair for residents of Richardson.

Women’s Leadership Conference

Approximately 200 UT Dallas women attended the second annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) held in February, 2008. Female student leaders were instrumental in the planning and implementation of this event. The conference format included breakout sessions, expert panels, table discussions, and a keynote speaker. Topics included Character in Leadership, Styles of Leadership, Ethics in Leadership, Opportunities in Leadership, Purpose in Leadership and Cultural Dimensions of Leadership. Speakers and presenters included successful women with varying backgrounds, including State Senator, Florence Shapiro; Dallas County Sheriff, Lupe Valdez; Texas Instruments’ Vice President for Worldwide Facilities, Shaunna Black; Founder/Publisher of Richardson Living Magazine, Erica Yeager; Princi-pal, MHT Partners, Sajal DeSai; Plano Mayor, Pat Evans; Founder/CEO www.2wlink.com, Lis McNabb, and several successful UT Dallas female faculty/staff members.

EVENTSThe Big EventVolunteer F.E.S.T.Race for the CureVolunteer WeekSanta Run Toy DriveService SaturdaysAlternative Spring Break Hinds Feet Farm (Brain Injury Rehabili- tation) in Charlotte, NC Habitat for Humanity (Hurricane Recovery) in New Orleans, LA Nehemiah’s Vision (Hurricane Recovery) in Beaumont, TX Communities in Schools (Technical and Web- based Support) in San Antonio, TX Dear Neighbor Ministries (Social Service Out- reach) in Wichita, KS Sequoyah State Park (Environmental Restoration) in Oklahoma American Red Cross (Homeless Outreach) in Dallas, TX North Texas Food Bank (Sorting Food Items) in Dallas, TX Central Dallas Ministries (Job Preparation for Foster Children) in Dallas, TX Seniors Net (Home Repairs for the Elderly) in Richardson, TX

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SPORTS, RECREATION AND LEISURE

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Student Affairs works from a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of educating and developing the whole person. With that in mind, a number of sports, leisure and recreation programs were provided throughout the year to encourage students to live a well-balanced life and to give them a variety of opportunities from which to choose.

Intercollegiate Athletics

The UT Dallas NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic program offered seven different women’s sports and six men’s sports in 2008. A total of 92 women and 127 men participated. The UT Dallas Athletic Department also hosted 592 participants in fourteen summer athletic camps in 2008.

The UT Dallas athletic program is one of the most successful in the American Southwest conference (ASC). Men’s soccer won the ASC post-season cham-pionship for the second time in four years and received a bid to play in the regional NCAA post-season tournament. Women’s volleyball won the east di-vision of the ASC and hosted the annual post-season conference tournament. Men’s tennis qualified for the ASC tournament, losing to the tournament champions, Hardin Simmons. Both men’s (their fifth consecutive appearance) and women’s (their second consecutive appearance) basketball were repeat participants in their respective ASC post-season tournaments.

The Athletic Department’s Champs Life Skills Program included programs and activities focused on personal and leadership development, wellness, alcohol and drug education, social interaction, academic success, and preparation for the future. Leaders from each athletic team served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and helped plan the annual Student Athlete Academic Recognition Luncheon, which honored thirty-nine student-athletes. The student-athletes also gave back to the community together by collecting clothing and funds for a local women’s shelter.

ATHLETIC TEAMSBaseball - Men’s Basketball - Men’s and Women’sCross Country - Men’s and Women’sGolf - Men’s and Women’sSoccer - Men’s and Women’s Softball - Women’sTennis - Men’s and Women’s Volleyball - Women’s

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EVENTSMarch Madness FrenzyCardboard Boat RegattaDancin for a Cause Dive-in-MovieRec ‘n Wild2nd Annual NIRSA National Flag Football ChampionshipsSwim Club MeetSink and Swim Pool TournamentTexas State Wrestling ChampionshipsMetroplex Racquetball ShowdownUltimate Frisbee 101 TournamentEat ‘n Educate Wellness Series

Recreational Sports

Recreational Sports provides the campus community opportunities for lei-sure, fitness and friendly competition through intramural and club sports, fitness and aquatic programs, and a state-the-art Activity Center. Over 98,000 participant visits to the Activity Center were logged in 2008. Recre-ational Sports also sponsored several large events such as Rec ‘n Wild, the Dive-In Movie, and March Madness Frenzy.

The Intramural Program included 25 different sports, including the first-ever Cardboard Boat Regatta, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, racquetball, volleyball, basketball, bellyflop/cannonball, softball, soccer, and dodgeball. In addition, new nontraditional recreation programs included Dancin for a Cause, 2-Ball Shootout, 4x4 Football, and Reverse co-rec Volleyball. Par-ticipation increased by 5.4% over the previous year, with over 11,000 par-ticipations on 452 individual teams.

UT Dallas fielded fifteen individual sport clubs during 2008, with approximately 375 team participants. Club Sports sponsored the Rockwall at Cometville Carnival and hosted several state and regional tournaments during the year. Running, wakeboarding and fencing were added to the Club Sports program and Recreational Sports held the first-ever Club Sports Banquet and imple-mented a Leadership Development program for club officers.

Fitness and Aquatics provided personal training programs to seventy-five individual clients and offered free workshops or non-credit courses in Zumba, Belly Dance, Myth Busters, Body Sculpting, Yoga, Salsa, Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instruction. Recreational Sports also offered an Eat ’n Educate series in partnership with the Staff Council Wellness Committee.

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Spirit Program

UT Dallas Spirit Squads support the endeavors of UTD athletic teams and serve as ambassadors for the University. In 2008, the Spirit Program included an 11-member cheer squad, an 11-member dance team, 3 mascots and the Crush Crew. The Cheer Squad received third place recognition in the all-girl intermediate division at the NCA national competition in Daytona Beach, Flori-da. They were featured in Texas Cheerleader and pictured in New in Chess. In addition to athletic event performances, the UTD Power Dancers performed at other special programs such as Mr. Greek, Freshman Convocation, SUAAB’s Drag Show, International Week Talent Show and Homecoming events.

Crush played an active role in promoting school spirit and increasing atten-dance at athletic events. Members of the Crush Crew created game-day banners and painted Student Union windows and signs for individual games. They started the Diamond Dolls in support of the UTD baseball team, giving special recognition to the hard work of individual players.

The campus community celebrated TEMOC’s 10th birthday at the end of 2008. A committee was formed to determine whether or not the Comet nickname and TEMOC were still appropriate representations of UTD. Toward the end of 2008, the campus community voted to retain “Comets” as the UT Dallas nickname but to consider a different mascot. The committee is continuing its deliberations in 2009.

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Late Night Program

The Student Union offered thirty-three separate events as part of the Late Night Program and recorded a total attendance of over 2,000, a 69% increase over the previous year. The Late Night Program provided weekly events to help students de-stress and take a break from their studies. Late Night Programs have become a tradition at UT Dallas.

Experience Dallas

Experience Dallas was launched at the end of 2008 as a way to get UT Dallas students connected to the greater Dallas-Fort Worth community and experi-ence all it has to offer. Students were encouraged to experience Dallas by join-ing periodic University-sponsored activities or by exploring Dallas with friends using their free transit passes from DART. The Experience Dallas display at the UTD Comet Center was created to highlight interesting things to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Discount tickets to movies, museums and other local attractions and events were also made available in the Comet Center. The Comet Center sold almost 4,000 discount tickets during the year.

EVENTSMidnight PancakesDodge BallPokerACUI 9-BallACUI SpadesGladiatorACUI Ping PongPumpkin CarvingConcertsJoustDominoesKaraokeHenna NightRock WallSummer Olympics OpeningJuly 4th CelebrationAmerican Idol Watch Party

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Because students who live on campus typically perform better and feel more connected as a community, Student Affairs is committed to offering a housing experience that enhances the educational experience of students, provides a comfortable living environment, and helps build community among residents.

Residential Life

A total of 2,846 students resided in campus housing during 2008, a 9.6% in-crease over the previous year. Slightly over 77% of residents were undergradu-ate students. Residential Life provided educational and social programs and leadership opportunities to enhance the living and educational experience of residential students.

Thirty-eight Peer Advisors and Senior Peer Advisors delivered over 950 com-munity building programs to the freshman residential community throughout the year. Programs included both educational and recreational activities. The Peer Advisor program was expanded to non-freshman residential areas during 2008. In addition to these Peer Advisor-led activities, Residential Life coordinated 296 different large programs for the entire residential community, with a total of 19,150 participations recorded for all programs offered.

A new Peer-to-Peer Program was introduced in the freshman housing com-munity for the first time, which resulted in the formation of a number of peer-to-peer interest groups, such as the Gamers’ Group and the Pet Owners’ Group. The Residential Housing Association (RHA) received the SWACURH Conference award for the “Most Spirited Delegation” and special recognition of their officers.

Residential Life also implemented the “One-More Year Program” for residen-tial sophomores during 2008. Two hundred students who were a part of the freshman residential community the prior year were given the opportunity to continue to be a part of that community for another year. As a result of the success of the One-More Year Program, a proposal for a separate sophomore-year residential experience program (SOX) was developed and approved for implementation in 2009.

LIVING AND LEARNINGEVENTSAll Night MadnessBroomballVolley QBuilding Banner BonanzaDive-In-MovieCrawfish BoilEarth DayFoam PartySex by the PoolSplatter BeatUniversity IdolCalculus Study BreakfastGuitar Hero TournamentSo You Think You Can DanceOscar NightCraft DayMake Your Own SundaeLet’s Take the DARTChess-GatingIs Love Supposed to HurtOktoberfestUltimate Secrets to Studying Smarter Not Harder

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Living Learning Communities

Four living learning communities were offered to incoming freshmen in 2008. Seventy-five freshmen, with interests ranging from the health professions to law and community service, shared common living areas, discipline-based classes, and special programming designed to enhance their contact with faculty, staff, and local organizations. Student advisors for each community served as mentors and event coordinators, creating a socially active and welcoming environment for new students.

Faculty and staff working with the living learning communities included Dr. Anthony Champagne – 1997 recipient of the Chancellor’s Council Out-standing Teaching Award, Dr. Scott Wright – former Director of Admissions for UT Southwestern Medical School, Dr. James Marquart – Program Head of Crime & Justice Studies, assistant and associate deans of related programs, professional academic advisors, and student life specialists.

Programming for students participating in the communities included the UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Annual Pre-Medical Conference, an extensive tour of the Lew Sterrett jail facility, a presentation by Pulitzer Prize winner Linda Greenhouse, and a screening of the movie SICKO followed by a panel discussion with distinguished guests John Sadler, MD, Richard Scotch, Ph.D, Devon Herrick, Ph.D, and Fabrice Jotterand, Ph.D. In addition to participation in the various program offerings, students in the living learning communities gave over 3000 hours in community service to over 20 organizations, which included volunteering for AIDS Outreach, Girls and Boys Clubs, Special Olympics, and Catholic Charities.

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EVENTSMove-in ManiaAnnual Ice Cream SocialDowntown DART DaysRace For the CureDo Not Respookitate Halloween PartyFaculty DinnersSlip and Slide into Summer Eau-lympicsKick-Ball KickoffSICKO ScreeningDistrict Court Tour

Housing Operations

The Department of Housing Operations continued to work with the property management companies, for both University-owned facilities and facilities owned by the Utley Foundation, and the student-led Campus Housing Advisory Committee to ensure a high-quality living experience for residential students. Several significant changes came to fruition in 2008. University-owned residential facilities were renamed and are now known as University Village. American Campus Communities was chosen as the new management company for University Village through an extensive bid process. Time Warner Cable was named as the internet and cable service provider for University Village.

Housing Operations played a major role in the design and planning process for UTD’s first-ever 400-bed, suite style residence hall. Housing Operations hosted the first-ever Furniture Expo, with a total attendance of 300, whichresulted in the student-led choice of furnishings for the new residence hall. The ground breaking for the new residence hall took place in 2008, and the facility is currently under construction and scheduled to open in the fall, 2009. The design of the new facility will enhance UTD’s freshman residentialprogram and living learning communities.

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The health and well-being of UT Dallas students is a high priority for Student Affairs; therefore the primary focus of the Student Health Center, Student Counseling Center and the Health Education Program is prevention and education along with high-quality care. The programs and services offered during 2008 were designed to encourage healthy lifestyles and personal responsibility and to foster a safe, caring and supportive environment.

Student Health Center and Health Education

The UT Dallas Student Health Center provided diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses and injuries to 2,801 patients during the year. In addition to treating these patients for their individual ailments, Health Center staff pro-vided education regarding their illnesses and injuries in an attempt to promote prevention and continued health. The Student Health Center administered free flu vaccines to 650 students.

The Health Education Program provides education on health-related topics. During 2008 the Health Education Program sponsored or co-sponsored over 25 health-related programs and hosted several blood and bone marrow drives. Carter Blood Care gave recognition to UT Dallas for the “Highest Number of Donors for Colleges and Universities.

The Health Education Program provided a number of events during National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week to help build a greater awareness and knowledge on issues related to the abuse of alcohol. Health Education was also instrumental in establishing the Student Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition, a group of student volunteers committed to the cause who assisted in develop-ing and delivering the Alcohol and Drug Awareness and Prevention Program and Don’t Be That Guy campaign. Health Education also administered the curriculum of “Mystudentbody.com” in conjunction with the judicial sanction process for students in violation of alcohol and other drug policy.

EVENTSSex By the PoolGame of LifeTake Back the NightSafe Zone Ally TrainingSex BowlMADD Wrecked CarRed Flags in the MallAwareness TriviaBeer Goggles ExperimentExpert PanelsHealth-On-Wheels WagonBRAD Cards on 21st BirthdayDear John NewsletterTeaching Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS) Training for Peer AdvisorsLove Your Body DayNational Collegiate Alcohol Awareness WeekGreat American SmokeoutSexual Responsibility Week

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WORSHOPSMemory and ConcentrationStress Management Test Taking Skills Time Management Assertiveness Stop ProcrastinationSTART TrainingStudent Counseling Center

The Student Counseling Center provided over 3500 counseling appointments, crisis interventions, consultations and psychiatric sessions to assist students in achieving the emotional health necessary for a successful and positive University experience. The Counseling Center also offered 84 presentations and workshops to over 3,000 attendees. Three workshops were converted to an on-line format and made available to students 24/7 through WebCT.

Weekly group counseling opportunities offered by the Student Counseling Center included a Graduate Student Group, a Co-ed Personal Growth Group, and a LGBT Group, and responsibility for the management of the START Program (Students Tackling Abusive Relationships Together) was transferred to the Student Counseling Center during the year. The Counseling Center also created a new awareness campaign for World Mental Health Day and co-sponsored a mental health conference with Galaxy Counseling Center for training local mental health professionals.

Behavior Assessment and Intervention Team

The Behavior Assessment and Intervention Team (BAIT) was created in 2008 as another measure to ensure the safety and welfare of the University community. BAIT and its policies were developed in a collaborative effort between the Student Counseling Center, the University Police Department, the Student Health Center, the Dean of Students, the Women’s Center, Academic Affairs, and the Vice President for Student Affairs. The creation of this team establishes a procedure for team consultation with UT Dallas faculty and staff who are concerned about the behavior of a student who is potentially danger-ous to self and/or others or is extremely disruptive or threatening. To educate the campus community better, a workshop on managing difficult behaviors was also developed and offered to faculty, staff and students.

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EVENTS AND PROGRAMSOrientationsComet CampSuccess CampEmerging Leader ProgramRoad Warriors EventsParent and Family Association programsIn addition to the programs and services previously reviewed in this report,

targeted and intentional educational programs and support services were offered to meet the diverse needs of UT Dallas students at every level.

New Student Programs

New Student Programs coordinated thirteen freshman, transfer and graduate student orientations during 2008 to ensure that students made a smooth and successful transition into the University. The Orientation Team Mentor (OTM) Program, with twenty-six paid OTMs, continued to provide an effective peer support system for the students entering UT Dallas for the first time.

New Student Programs hosted 268 freshmen (a 26.7% increase over the previ-ous year) for the 2008 Comet Camp and 202 freshmen for Success Camp 2008. Participants learned about UT Dallas traditions, ways to get involved, and how to succeed academically. These events included a mock lecture and sessions on academic expectations, testing, study skills, note-taking strategies, and time management as well as opportunities for fun and social interaction.

The Emerging Leader Program (ELP) was also offered. The program included a retreat and weekly workshops that gave students the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of effective leadership and enhance their leadership skills. Fifteen students participated in the 2008 ELP retreat and an average of 45 students attended the weekly workshops during the year.

The Road Warriors Program was offered as a social program to help com-muter students find their place at UT Dallas. A total of 86 commuter students registered with the program in 2008, with an average attendance of twenty eight at each event. The program was coordinated by the OTMs during the fall semester. Events included whirly ball, a trip to a haunted house, University athletic events, and community service opportunities.

The UT Dallas Parent & Family Association registered 359 new members in 2008, for a total membership of 915. Members received the weekly “Comet Flash” eLetter and the monthly “Comet Connections” eLetter and were invited to participate in end-of-semester dinners, final exam-a-grams, and the Fresh-man Convocation and Family Day receptions.

STUDENT SUCCESS AND TRANSITIONS

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EVENTSFreshman ConvocationRhetoric 1101Volunteer F.E.S.T.End of Year PartySummer Book ClubLiving Learning Communities

Freshman Year Experience

In collaboration and partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Education, Student Affairs coordinated an effort to pull pre-existing first-year programs together to define the Freshman-Year Experience (FYE) Program at UT DallasThe FYE Program includes programs and services to ensure students experi-ence a smooth transition into higher education and independent living and to help them make the most of their first year in college.

In addition to the programs already reviewed in the New Student Programs section of this report, Freshman Convocation, Rhetoric 1101, Living Learning, Experience Dallas, Residential Life Programs, Volunteer FEST and the fresh-man year-end party, all pre-existing programs, were also identified as compo-nents of the Freshman-Year Experience Program.

The first-ever Summer Book Club was piloted as part of the FYE Program during the summer. The Summer Book Club provided an opportunity for incoming freshmen to read Chris Bohjalian’s Before You Know Kindness and join an online discussion with fellow students. The Cometline to Success wasalso created as a part of the new FYE Program website to give a list of opportunities and suggested tasks freshmen should consider completing during their first year at UT Dallas.

A comprehensive program plan was developed to define the mission, goals, core program components, desired learning outcomes, and assessment meth-ods of the FYE Program. A FYE Program Advisory Committee meets on a regular basis to ensure the cohesiveness and success of the FYE efforts.

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Sophomore Year Experience

To address the specific needs of sophomores and to help them make more seamless and successful transitions from their freshman to sophomore and their sophomore to junior years, Student Affairs researched best practices in the field and conducted a focus group of UT Dallas sophomores to determine the feasibility of implementing a Sophomore-Year Experience Program (SOYE) at UT Dallas. As a result of these endeavors, Student Affairs staff participated in a SOYE Program retreat to identify existing programs and explore new pro-grams that would meet the needs of UT Dallas sophomores.

Both a coordinating committee and an advisory committee were appointed to help design and implement a comprehensive SOYE Program. The mission, goals, core program components, desired learning outcomes and assessment methods were defined in a comprehensive program plan. The SOYE plan also outlines program components for future consideration.

In August, 2008, the first SOYE program component was piloted. The Career Center conducted an internship/externship information session in conjunction with the annual Study Abroad Fair. The two events were promoted to sopho-mores to encourage them to think about such opportunities in time to put them into their academic plans. Sophomores were also given the opportunity to sign up for personalized business cards and receive the new “sophoMORE-tolove” t-shirt.

Residential Life also launched SOX (Sophomore On-Campus Experience) for residential sophomores in August, 2008, introducing Sophomore Challenge in the early weeks of the fall, 2008 semester. The kick-off event provided sopho-mores with an information fair where they could learn about campus resourc-es relevant to their current needs.

EVENTSSophomore AdvanceSophomore Challenge

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Transfer Year Experience

To address the unique challenges and ensure the success of students trans-ferring into UTD, Student Affairs opened the new Transfer Student Services Office in August, 2008. The Transfer Student Services Coordinator established communication with incoming transfer students prior to their arrival on cam-pus to help them get connected and smooth their transition into UT Dallas. TRANSFERmation, a weekly eLetter to new transfer students, was launched to bring attention to important information and items of interest. A Transfer Year Experience website was also created.

The Transfer Student Advisory Committee was formed to assist in defining the mission, goals, core program components, desired learning outcomes and assessment methods for a comprehensive Transfer-Year Experience (TYE) Program. Future TYE Program components being considered include T-Camp, Tau Sigma National Honor Society, and ANTS (Assisting New Transfer Students).

Disability Services

Disability Services continued efforts to ensure the success of students with disabilities and engage them in the full academic experience. A total of 382 students were assisted through Disability Services in 2008. Disability Services staff presented educational programs to academic advisors, graduate stu-dents, TAs and RAs, with over 200 in attendance. They also helped to identify physical areas in need of improvement in regard to accessibility, including the relocation and configuration of DART stops and the addition of more handi-capped accessible doors. Disability Services continued to manage a testing center for students who need special accommodations related to test tak-ing and worked to improve that facility to make it more efficient. Through the efforts of Disability Services, the use of Communication Access Real Time Translation (CART) replaced the need for human interpreters at events and presentations.

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Career Center

The UT Dallas Career Center continued to provide programs and services to prepare students for a lifetime of successful career and life decisions. The Career Center offered 401 seminars and other presentations, with a total attendance of almost 11,000, and conducted 7,284 counseling and internship appointments (a 9.4% increase over the previous year) and over 2,700 individu-al resume critiques (a 2% increase).

The Career Center also had direct responsibility for teaching credit-bearing career-related courses for the Schools of Arts & Humanities (A&H), Brain & Behavioral Sciences (BBS), Individual Studies (IS), Management (SOM), and Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS). A new career course was offered in the Arts and Technology (ATEC) program, which was team taught by Career Center staff and ATEC faculty.

Seven hundred five students were successful in securing internship experi-ences through the Career Center’s Internship Program during 2008, a 14.4% increase over the previous year. The Internship Team also revamped the in-ternship sections of the Career Center website with the inclusion of an on-line version of the Internship Information Session. In addition, the Career Center piloted the first-ever Internship Week program and staffed office hours in the Schools of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and Management for the convenience of students.

The Career Center experienced a 22.4% increase in the number of students recruited by employers for on-campus interviews and a 10.3% increase in the number of employers who participated in Career Expos during the year. The Career Center also implemented the new “Meet the Recruiters” program with 240 students attending in its inaugural year. The annual Graduate Follow-up Survey indicated that 76.18% of survey respondents were either continuing their education or employed within six months of graduation.

EVENTSCareer ExpoTeacher ExpoPublic Agency Career ExpoGraduate & Professional School FairHow to Write an Effective ResumeHow to InterviewEmployer Information SessionsMeet the Recruiter EventsIdentifying Your SkillsMyers Briggs and Career ChoicesWorkplace Communication 101Dining EtiquetteInternship Week

TOP EMPLOYERSTexas InstrumentsDeloitte & ToucheGarland and Plano ISDsKPMGMicrosoftRaytheonWeaver & TidwellAT&TBank of AmericaEricsson

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EVENTSPassport to the WorldInternational Talent ShowGarage Giveaway ProgramTransportation InitiativeTax WorkshopWorld Mental Health DayGlobal VillageCultural TripsInternational Potluck DinnerDiversity Dinner DialoguesHenna Body ArtWorld Dance PartyCricket TournamentInternational Student Success TrainingInternational WeekInternational Education Week

International Student Services

The International Student Services Office (ISSO) provided a wide range of services to assure the University and international students were compliant with federal and state laws and regulations related to immigration. The Department of Homeland Security’s more comprehensive reporting require-ments through the SEVIS system continued to increase the workload and responsibility of ISSO staff. Over 3,000 individual advising sessions and numerous email exchanges were conducted by the staff as they assisted international students from the admissions application process through their post-graduation practical training approvals. The ISSO also coordinated the student health insurance program for both international and domestic students at UT Dallas.

A major focus of the ISSO’s efforts was providing transitional programs to ensure the success of international students. Starting with the New International Student Orientation, ISSO’s programming team, along with the International Peer Advocates, worked to strengthen existing programs and develop new initiatives and collaborations. Many of the ISSO programs have become institutional traditions. In addition to programs and services to assist international students in achieving their academic, professional and personal goals, the International Student Services Office (ISSO) provided international and cultural programs for the entire campus community during 2008.

New initiatives in 2008 included participation in the International Student Leadership Conference, International Student Success Training, the Transportation Initiative, Cultural Trips, co-sponsorship of World Mental Health Day, and the creation of Global Village. Global Village provided a leadership opportunity for international students and fostered cross-cultural understanding and friendship among the global student community through social, cultural, and educational activities. The ISSO also established a partnership with the World Affairs Council of Dallas and partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to host a regulation-release event for international educators from a 5-state area.

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Office of the Dean of Students

In addition to giving oversight to many of the programs already presented in this report, the Office of the Dean of Students also manages Judicial Affairs and the Comet Card Office, administers student grievances and helps to en-sure a campus environment that fosters the success of all students. Judicial Affairs conducted over 20 educational sessions on scholastic dishonesty and student conduct for students and faculty during 2008. Two hundred thirty-three scholastic dishonesty cases were resolved along with 140 other student discipline cases. The majority of these cases were adjudicated and resolved within the Office of the Dean of Students, with only six cases going to hear-ings. The Comet Card Office managed the UTD ID Card system and the Comet Center and offered the new Dollars & Sense Money Management Workshop.

The Dean of Students also played a critical role in the development of the new Behavior Assessment and Intervention Team (BAIT) and related training and procedures. Other projects for which the Dean of Students played an important role included the design of the new dining facility currently under construction, the new Student Services Building, currently in the planning and design phase, and SACS reaffirmation of UT Dallas. The Deanof Students also planned and delivered monthly professional staff develop-ment opportunities to ensure that Student Affairs staff members are up to date with and knowledgeable about current trends, student expectations and University policy.

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SPECIAL PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES

Program Development

A new Program Development Coordinator was hired in 2008 to research best practices in building transition programs to ensure students success at every level of the undergraduate experience. Based on the gathered research, pre-liminary work began to define the components of several transition programs, including the Freshman Year, Sophomore Year, and Transfer Year Experience Programs presented earlier in this report. Information about Senior Year Ex-perience programs was also gathered, and a working committee was assigned to develop such a program for UT Dallas seniors. This work will continue in 2009.

Marketing and Web Development

In an attempt to help achieve the University’s strategic initiative to “Tell Our Story Better,” a new Student Affairs Marketing Manager was hired. In collabo-ration with individual units, the Marketing Manager developed new marketing materials to promote events and services and to tell the Student Affairs chap-ter of the UT Dallas story more proactively. These marketing efforts helped to engage a greater number of students, faculty and staff in Student Affairs programs and events during the year.

Student Affairs also employed a new Web Developer to enhance the web presence of units within the Division. The Web Developer re-designed and pub-lished eighteen different websites during the year and began conceptual work on several others. Many of these websites, and/or events they represented, were featured on various sections of the UT Dallas website to help drive users to them. With the cooperation of the Office of Communications, the UT Dallas News Center ran sixty-two Student Affairs stories during the year.

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Facilities

Student Affairs is also committed to providing quality physical spaces that enhance learning, social interaction and service delivery. Over the past year the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, and Director of Housing Operations, along with other staff members, participated in the planning and design phases of the new dining facility and the new residential hall. These two facilities are currently under construction and are scheduled to open in the fall, 2009.

The planning and design of a new Student Services Building began in 2008 after the passage of a fee referendum by the student body in 2007 to fund the construction and operation of the new building. The VPSA and other Student Affairs staff participated in the planning and design of this new building over the past year to ensure the effective use of the space to meet the learning and service needs of students. Construction is set to begin in 2009.

The physical environment of the Student Union was also improved over the past year, with the addition of new pool tables, live plants, new furniture and better signage throughout the building. Changes also included the creation of interior and exterior banners with fun facts about UTD. Planters, a pergola and new tables with umbrellas were added to The Patio outside The Pub. The Patio was also enhanced by a new wall mural depicting student life at UT Dallas. The Comet Center also received a makeover, which included the new Experi-ence Dallas display.

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Special Projects

Student Affairs engaged in a number of special projects throughout the year. Championed by Student Government, the Spirit Rock became a reality in 2008. The Spirit Rock was installed on the mall and gives students a venue for free expression and promoting causes and events. Students were also instrumen-tal in planning and designing The Patio mural and creating the first-ever UTD Fight Song, which was debuted at the August, 2008 Freshman Convocation. In addition, a committee of students, faculty and staff worked diligently to determine whether or not it was time for UTD to consider a new mascot. After a vote of the campus community, “Comets” was retained as UTD’s nickname, and the “TEMOC” character was ultimately retained as the UTD mascot. The committee has recommended a mascot name change to the President for consideration.

In response to the University’s strategic plan, Student Affairs developed a division-wide strategic plan that will guide the direction of the Division for the next decade. The activities and accomplishments presented in this report contributed to the retention and success of UT Dallas students in 2008. They also served as a launch pad for the successful implementation of the Division’s strategic initiatives as we join the campus community in Creating the Future.

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A number of the staff within the Division of Student Affairs received recognitions and awards for their service and contributions during the year. Several were also elected to serve in leadership positions in their professional organizations.

Nancy Lozano, Career Center - UTD CARE Award; SASEA President; NSEA Board MemberRandi Mogul, Residential Life - UTD CARE Award; Staff Council RepresentativeDarlene Coppage, Career Center - Staff Council Representative; First-ever Recipient of the Staff Council, Sandee Goertzen Member of the Year Award; Student Life Shooting Star AwardTricia Losavio, Recreational Sports - Staff Council RepresentativeJanie Shipman, Career Center - MAC3 SecretaryMichael Doty, Career Center - SoACE Program Committee ChairLisa Garza, Career Center - Student Life Map Points Training Certificate, Fannae’ Shields, Career Center - Student Life Map Points Training CertificateJody Everson, Career Center - Student Life NOVA AwardKerry Tate, Disability Services - Texas AHEAD Board MemberAmanda Smith, Health Education - Student Life Employee of the Year Award; Student Life Shooting Star AwardCristen Casey, International Student Services - U.S. Department of Homeland Security “Service to the Homeland” Award; NAFSA National Ethics Sub-Committee MemberMeg Morgan, International Student Services - NAFSA Trainer Corps Member; Student Life Shooting Star AwardBill Conoley, Recreational Sports -UTD CARE AwardBen Piper, Recreational Sports - NIRSA Volleyball Committee; Student Life Shooting Star AwardHolly Worrell, Recreational Sports - American Red Cross Instructor Training LicenseTarita Graham, International Student Services -Student Life Shooting Star AwardDonna Blouin, Housing Operations -Student Life Shooting Star AwardMegan Greene, Recreational Sports - Student Life Shooting Star AwardMary Walters, Student Union - Inducted into UTD Athletics First Comets Hall of HonorsBriana Lemos, Greek Life - Student Life Shooting Star AwardAnne Caldwell, International Student Services - Student Life Shooting Star AwardBarbara Thompson, Residential Life - Student Life Shooting Star AwardDonna Srader, Career Center - Student Life Shooting Star AwardPam Mcelrath, Residential Life - SWACUHO Human Resources Committee Chair

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STAFF AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

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